Robert Pearce, 1817-1885, and Sarah Brown, 1816-1898

Robert Pearce:

• Born 13 Jun 1817 Porlock, Somerset, , England
• Died 18 Oct 1885 Paradise, Cache, Utah
• Parents: Thomas Pearce and Mary Snow
• Spouse: Sarah Brown (md. 28 Dec 1844 Porlock, Somerset, , England)
• Children: Elizabeth Pearce, Mary Pearce, Sarah Pearce, Robert Pearce, Mary Pearce, Thomas Joseph Pearce, Sr., Charles Pearce

Sarah Brown:

• Christened 22 Dec 1816 Porlock, Somerset, , England
• Died 13 Apr 1898 Paradise, Cache, Utah
• Parents: John Brown and Sarah Bale

History of Robert Pearce

"Robert Pearce crossed the ocean on the John Boyd ship with William W. Cluff, leader of the company. Left Liverpool 30 April 1863 and landed in New York June 1st 1863 and arrived at Florence June the 12, 1863, Cross the plains with Captain W.B. Preston. Left July 9, 1863 with 55 wagons, 300 souls and arrive in Salt Lake Sept 10, 1863.

"Early Settlers of Paradise Utah, they first settled in hills in the southern end of the valley. The Indians were bad stealing their horses and cattle. They would come off the mountains and take their stock. The settlers desired to move 5 miles north where the country was more open so they could see the Indians coming. They called this place Paradise.

"Grandfather took an active part helping to protect the settlers against the Indians. He was a shoemaker, this was his trade in England and Wales, where he joined the church. He also was a gardener, frit and a farmer and stock raiser.

"He was active in the church work. He was true to his agreement, Grandmother that when promised to have a pair of shoes ready at a certain time he would stay up all night and have them ready. He sewed all the shoes by hand. And the boots and the half soles on with pegs.

"Robert Pearce ordained a teacher
"Ordained a priest - no date
"Ordained an elder Oct 21, 1872 by Joseph F. Smith at Salt Lake City, Utah
"ordained a Seventy Jan 7, 1884 by Robert Boxter at Paradise
"Set apart as a President of the 62nd quorum of Seventies Nov 28, 1891 by Pres. J. D. Feldjsted at Hyrum
"Set apart as President to the 118th quorum of Seventies Feb 6, 1899, Joseph G. Kimball being mouth in company with Pres. Jos. McMurrin
"Ordained a High Priest in the Hyrum Stake of Zion Feb 1, 1908 by Elder George Bradshaw Hyrum, Cache Co. Utah

"Robert Pearce baptized Sep 14 1860 at Cardiff Glamorganshire So Wales.
"Rebaptized Sep 1863 at Old Paradise Cache Co. Utah by Elder William Humphries
"Reconfirmed Sept 1863 by Bro. David James
"Rebaptized into United Order at Paradise Cache Co. Utah"

copied from records of Robert and Annie Marie Somes Pearce

* * *

Early English Pioneers Help to Found Paradise
By Viola S. Welch

"Among the first settlers were Robert Pearce and his wife Sarah Brown Pearce. He was born June 13, 1817, in Porlock, West Somerset, England. When he was a boy, he was apprenticed to a shoemaker, where he learned the trade which he followed throughout his life.

"On September 28, 1844, he married Sarah Brown. He joined the LDS Church and was baptized May 6, 1851.

"They were parents of seven children, four girls and three boys.

"In their married life they had many joys and some sorrows. Two of their daughters died and were buried in England. The rest of their family had the privilege of coming to America. This was the dream and hope of this family to come to America and eventually to Utah.

"Robert had a brother who worked for a brewery. They used a horse-drawn dray to haul the huge barrels. Some times the boys would get a chance to ride the drays. They used large Clydesdale horses for this purpose. The horses were hitched tandem and the men walked and led them. Some of the horses weighed as much as 2100 pounds. The men would take a few long hairs from the horse's tail, then Robert would knot them together for fishing line. Then would follow a nice afternoon of poaching. In England the gentry own all the land and brooks, so that was another incentive to come to America.

"Taught To Read
"His oldest son Robert was put in kindergarten when he was three years old. They were taught to read and write at an early age. When he was eight, he was able to read so well that his father would say "Bob, you read me the newspaper while I work." During this time he joined the fife and drum band. He learned the rudiments of music which were very helpful to him later in life. When he was ten he had to go to work at sewing and pegging shoes which was done by hand. This ended his schooling.

"This way of life continued until sometime in 1862 when they were able to sail to America. They crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel that took nearly six weeks to cross. Think of being out on the sea for six weeks at the mercy of the elements with a family of children. After some time of wind and weather they had crossed the wide Atlantic and came to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. They sailed up this mighty river and crossed over to New York, then to Council Bluffs, Iowa.

"Arriving in Council Bluffs too late in the year to start overland across the plains to Utah, they decided to remain there for the winter. They rented a house and he set up his shop to have some income for the winter. They waited anxiously for the main thing in their lives to go ever onward in their travels until their destination and ambition was accomplished, a little home in the mountains of Utah.

"Move West
"Finally spring came and caravans began moving west. They were starting on a thousand mile trip over the vast plains, across rivers and through rugged mountains where roads were merely a name. What courage and faith they must have had to face this!

"Fifteen miles a day was good traveling for the lumbering oxen. His wife walked nearly all the way. The older children walked most of the time. A great many thing happened on this long journey, many pleasant and some sad. The wagons were loaded with priceless possessions they would need in their new home. It was necessary to supplement their food supply with game, fish and fruit as they traveled along.

"After many weary months on the plains, they saw the sight that cheered the travelers. In the dim distance they got the first glimpse of the Rockies. Day by day these majestic mountains with their snow capped peaks piercing the blue sky became clearer as they approached. It was a signal and promise that their goal day by day was coming nearer. Now they were in the mountains, abundant with game and fish, plenty of wood for fires and sparkling streams of cold water. Their hearts were cheered with the assurance that they were nearing the promised land.

"On a day about two weeks out from Salt Lake, Robert Jr. was allowed to drive one of the wagons which was loaded with kegs of nails for use in building their homes.

"This brave couple with their five children were delighted with their first sight of the Salt Lake Valley.

"Settle in Ogden
"It was getting autumn time so he decided to set up shop for the winter in Ogden. During his stay there he purchased a team of oxen and a wagon. The church leaders advised the family to join the saints in Cache Valley so they loaded their belongings and started for their final destination in Paradise. They journeyed north to Brigham City, up Brigham Canyon, over the old Devil's Gate Pass, on over the mountains and down into the land of their dreams. Looking down from the top, they saw spread out before them one of the beauty spots of Utah, a verdant valley with sparkling streams, teaming with trout, wild fruit abundant everywhere, wild chickens and game for the taking and free land for a home. It was a long dry stretch over the divide and down into the valley. The end of their journey in old Paradise (Avon) was just a few miles away. Before the sun had set they rounded the last hill, crossed the last river and looming on the horizon was the place they traveled so far to see. It was just a group of log cabins and a bunch of goodly people who had traveled the same dreary road but they were met with love and sincere friendship and a hearty welcome. They were a free people in a free land where everyone was equal.

"Time was getting short until winter set in. They chose a site near a hill so they could make a half dugout and half cabin. Some of the men went into the canyon for logs and poles and others were busy digging the dugout. By community effort they soon had a snug place to live.

"Fall Harvest
"The colony was in their fall harvest so everyone turned out. The grain was cut with cradles and it took a strong man to handle one. They swept the grain around into little bundles, then with wooden hand rakes. Some of the men and women raked them into little bundles, ready for tiers. They grasped a bunch of wheat straws and whipped them around a bundle; the twisted the ends under. Many of the precious heads were dropped so the children and women gleaned them one by one. In this way they harvested twelve bushels which went a long way toward their bread stuff for the winter.

"Robert was allotted his land but he couldn't do any farming until next year so he helped the other men and got a good supply of firewood for the coming winter. He also kept the community shoes and harnesses all mended. So went their first winter in old Paradise.

"Among the neighbors living in the old fort were J. G. Crapo, Ahrin Monteith, Barnard White, William Woodhead, James Lofthouse, Enoch Rawlins, Edward Davenport, John Sperry, Jerome Remington, Winslow Farr, James Bishop, Elijah Tams, Charles Rawlins, Leonard Crapo, Dr. Ellis and Albert Crapo.

"On account of Indian uprisings and warnings, the Blackhawk Indian war in southern Utah and an increasing hostility of the Indians in northern Utah, it was thought advisable by Ezra T. Benson and Peter Maugham that the settlement be moved three miles to the north to the present site of Paradise. The country was more open here and settlers could protect themselves better. Such a move involved a considerable sacrifice to the settlers, but they made the move in the spring of 1868.

"Farming was a new occupation Robert had to learn and this with the earnings from his trade, he made a good living. His health began to fail but he kept going at light work in his garden and his trade. He died October 18, 1885, in Paradise.

"When we think of the hardships and sacrifice our noble pioneers endured we wonder, but we look at the vast number of posterity left, we know their mission was for a purpose. Their seed is rooted in the west and will live on forever. So we can say thanks to our forefathers who had the courage and made the effort and we can live a little easier in the heritage they left us."

From
THE HERALD JOURNAL
Logan, Cache County, Utah
Monday February 26, 1968

Thomas Joseph Pearce, 1857-1933

• Born 28 May 1857 Cardiff, Glamorganshire, , Wales
• Died 17 Jan 1933 Hyrum, Cache, Utah
• Parents: Robert Pearce and Sarah Brown
• Spouse: Mary Alice Davenport (md. 1 Dec 1881 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah)
• Children: Mary Agnes Pearce; Thomas Joseph Pearce, Jr.; Clarissa Pearce; William Edwin Pearce; Edward Pearce; James Albert Pearce; Sarah Elizabeth Pearce; Warren Pearce; Marcus Pearce; Eudora Pearce

History of my father Thomas Joseph Pearce Sr.

by his son Thomas Joseph Pearce Jr.

"Thomas Joseph Pearce Sr., son of Robert Pearce and Sarah Brown, was born May 28, 1857 at Cardiff, Wales, He came to America with his parents in 1863 and settled in the southern part of the Cache Valley same year. He made his home in Paradise, Utah, where he lived the rest of his life.

"His parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Wales and set sail on a sailing ship for America. After six weeks on the ocean they landed in New York. They took the train to Florence, Nebraska which was the end of the railroad.

"From there they traveled to the Salt Lake Valley by ox team. After crossing the plains, they entered the Valley on September 10th, 1863. There they made their home. There were four children in the family, three brothers, Robert, Thomas Joseph, and Charles, and one sister Elizabeth. Elizabeth married Edwin Pope their Teamster on the plains.

"He was a member of the first Fife and Drum band that was organized in that part of the valley. He lived a good life. His education was limited, he had to work hard with his parents as pioneers. At the age of sixteen he was extra strong, he could cut grain (wheat) along with the older men. The cradle was all they had to cut the grain with when they first settled there. They used it by hand. The farmers would help one another to harvest their grain. They would meet at one field and cut the grain, then go on to the next field.

"Father had to help make a living in this new community. He would work cutting grain with the rest of the men. The next harvester was a mowing machine, pulled by horses, that had a dropper, or ridge to catch the grain and drop it in piles. The grain was then hand bound, the same as they did with the cradle, and tied with some of the grain stalks. The next was the self binder. I remember the first one that father had.

"Thomas Joseph Pearce Sr. married Mary Alice Davenport December 1, 1881. They were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, they rode to Salt Lake City in a wagon pulled by horses.

"There were ten children born to them, six boys, and four s. One of the boys died in infancy. They were Mary Agnes, Thomas Joseph Jr., Clarissa, William Edwin, Edward, James Albert, Sarah Elizabeth, Warren, Marcus who died in infancy at the age of eighteen days, and Eudora.
Father was very active in the Church. I Joseph, his oldest son recollect that he was secretary for the Sunday School. I remember standing by his knee by the table on the stand in the rock church in Paradise, Utah. He was secretary of the Seventies Quorum. He was also secretary of the High Priests Quorum.

Back row:  l. to r. Sarah E., Warren, William E., Edward, Clarissa J., Albert
Middle row:  Thomas Joseph Jr., Mary Alice D., Thomas Joseph Sr., Agnes
In front:  Eudora

"He served as police in Paradise for a term, was ton or custodian for the Cemetery for quite a while. The custodian Mr. Charles Hall died from the flu, and Thomas Sr. took his place and served for a number of years.

L to R:  Thomas Joseph, Edward, Eudora, Mary Alice Davenport Pearce

"He owned a small farm and had to struggle to raise his family. In his latter years his health was very poor. He had ulcers of the stomach.

"He spent his life in Paradise, Utah. He did not travel much, made a couple of trips to Idaho Falls, Idaho with Mother to visit their children that had located there.

"He spent a good life, always stood for things that was right."

* * * * *

MARY ALICE DAVENPORT
AND
THOMAS JOSEPH PEARCE

Mary Alive Davenport b. 4 April 1861, Draper, S.L., Utah; d. 13 Nov. 1937, Hyrum, Cache, Utah; bu. 15 Nov. 1937, Paradise, Cache, Utah; dau. of Edward Wilcox and Clarissa Danforth (Crapo) Davenport; md. 1 Dec. 1881, Salt Lake City, S.L., Utah, Thomas Joseph Pearce b. 28 May 1857, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales; d. 18 Jan. 1933, Hyrum, Cache, Utah; bu. 20 Jan. 1933, Paradise, Cache, Utah; son of Robert and Sarah (Brown) Pearce. Ten children.

(The following is taken from a history written by Thomas Joseph and Sarah Elizabeth, children of the above.)

"The first little daughter of Edward and Clarissa Davenport was given the name, Mary Alice, after both her grandmothers. She was idolized by her older brothers. She was tall and dark like her father and had his sweet, gentle disposition. She was loved by all who knew her. She went through all the hardships of the early pioneers. Most of their work had to be done by hand, inside the house and outside on the farm. They didn't have the things to work with that we have today.

"When the threshers came, there was lots of extra work to do. The grain had to be threshed by horse power supplied by six teams of horses going in a circle. It took the work of about fourteen men to handle the machine and the grain and get the threshing done. Mother had a lot of hard work to prepare meals for them. Sometimes she was able to hire some help.

"Father would plant a good garden and Mother and the children would take care of it. There was a large orchard on our place, so we always had plenty of fruit. Mother would peel the apples and dry them in the sun, by the sackful.

"She made all our clothes when we were young. She made knee pants for the boys and long dresses for the s until we got older. We were very proud of them.

"When Mother was seventeen years old, her brothers bought a sawmill in White Pine Canyon east of Paradise, and Mother helped cook for the men until she was married.

"On December the first, 1881, Mother and Father were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. They traveled in a lumber wagon, with a wagon box and a spring seat on it, the eighty miles to Salt Lake City. After their marriage, they settled in Paradise, where they lived the rest of their lives. They are also buried there.

"Their first home was a two-roomed house. It was made of white pine logs, sawed on four sides, with lumber siding on the outside and lath and plaster on the inside. Later they built a larger home.

"There were lots of Indians passing through Paradise in the early days, begging for food. Many times they would come to the Pearce home. Mother made good loaves of bread and many of them went to feed the Indians.

"In the spring of 1906, Mother and Father met with a bad when their horses became frightened and ran away, and they were thrown from the wagon. The wheel ran over Father's hand and crippled it. Mother's wrist was broken and after it healed, it was always stiff.

"Among Mother's many accomplishments were soap making and her handiwork. She made beautiful knitted lace and loved to quilt. She used to quilt for the Relief Society and was paid one dollar for every spool of thread that she used on a quilt. Mother was kind and gentle and loved her family very much.

"Thomas Joseph Pearce Sr. was born in Wales. His parents had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints some years before. When he was six years old, they came to America. They left Liverpool, England, in a sailing vessel and were on the ocean for six weeks before arriving in New York. From there they rode on a train to Florence, Nebraska, where the railroad ended. They finished the journey to Salt Lake City, Utah, in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. They came in the William B. Preston Company and Edwin Pope was the driver of their wagon. They settled in Paradise, Utah, a small settlement in the southern end of Cache Valley. Here, the Indians were a menace and Joseph took his turn watching for them.

"When he was sixteen he cut grain with a cradle and kept up with the older men. After the grain was cut, it was laid in rows and then bound into bundles by hand, using grain stalks to hold them. The families helped each other with their field work, going from one farm to another.

"He helped build the first church house, which was made of lime rock and also helped with the log school house. He hauled rock to help build the Logan Temple and also helped get out the timber to the sawmill and hauled the finished lumber to the temple site. He was interested in any new project that would help the community.

"He loved to farm and raised sugar beets for the sugar factory at Logan. He also worked some for his brother-in-law, Frank Davenport in his sawmill. In his early years he was active in the church and he worked hard to provide for his family."

--from Hall, Dorothy D., compiler. Davenport Ancestry in America and Descendants of John Pope Davenport and Edward Wilcox Davenport: 1640-1962. Springville, Utah: Art City Publishing Company, 1962, pp. 364-67.

Sarah Elizabeth Pearce, 1892-1985

• Born 23 Nov 1892 Paradise, Cache, Utah
• Died 30 Jan 1985 Pleasant Grove, Utah, Utah
• Parents: Thomas Joseph Pearce (Sr.) and Mary Alice Davenport
• Spouse: Arland Lorenzo Davidson (md. 8 Mar 1918 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah)
• Children: Blanche Elizabeth Davidson, Alvin Lorenzo Davidson, Hyrum Davidson, Anna Vernessa Davidson, Thelma Pearce Davidson, Myrl Wesley Davidson, Ethel Davidson

My Life History by Sarah Elizabeth Pearce Davidson

"I, Sarah Elizabeth Pearce, was born 23 November, 1892 at Paradise, Cache Co., Utah, the daughter of Thomas Joseph Pearce, Sr. and Mary Alice Davenport. I have six brothers: Thomas Joseph, William Edwin, Edward, James Albert, Warren, and Marcus and three sisters: Mary Agnes, Clarissa, and Eudora. All my brothers and sisters have their endowments but Marcus, he died when he was 20 days old. My brother Edward died as a young man and never had his endowments before he died, but we had it done after.
I was blessed by Elder John Welch. I was baptized by John J. James and confirmed by John P. James.

"My health as a growing child was good. I had the chicken pox, mumps and I had the whooping cough when I was about 15 years old. The only I had as a young happened when I was sleigh riding on the ice. I got dumped off and hit my knee on the sharp bit of ice.
All mother’s children before me had the typhoid fever and she nursed them all back to health without a doctor. We did not have many doctors in those days. My brother, William, we called him Will, was out with my father and brother Joseph. Father was cutting his wheat with what they called a cradle. Will got in the way. When Father swung the cradle around, the knife blade hit Will in the leg. Father tore his shirt and made a tourniquet around his leg to stop the bleeding. Will had a few narrow escapes from in his life.

"In the summer of my school years, I used to help Mother with the work around the house and at threshing time I would have to run errands. One of them was to go to the dairy and get some butter and cheese. The dairy was about a mile from home and I did not like to go in the place where I had to get the butter because I had to pass an engine with a shaft that ran the equipment. I thought it would hit me. I saw how butter was churned and washed and made into pounds.

"The threshing was run by the power of six teams of horses (called horse power machines) and the grain came out and was put in a sack. The men would carry the grain to the granary and dump it in the bins. The wheat shocks were stacked in the yard, so we had a lot of men to cook for. Instead of the separator machine cutting the band of the bound wheat shock, one man would cut the band with a knife and the other one would shove it into the machine. Before the binder came to cut and bind the grain, my father had to cut the grain by hand with an old-time cradle and bind it by hand with some stalks of grain. The binder came and the steam engine came to thresh the wheat and oats. They had a cookshack wagon with them so we did not have to cook for the men and crew.

"I have seen and helped by father grind apples in an old apple grinder and press and make cider and vinegar.

"One time Father planted some sorghum seeds. When they grew and were ready to cut down, Father would run the stalks through the cider press. We made some molasses by boiling the juice down. We had about one gallon molasses.

"I started school in Paradise grade school when I was nearly seven years old in the fall of 1901. My first teacher was Isabelle Obray; second grade teacher: George S. Obray; third grade: Miss Hansen; fourth and fifth: Oscar Dunn; sixth: Cecille Shipley; seventh and eighth: D. M. Bickmore.
I graduated from the eighth grade May 27, 1910. When I graduated from the eighth grade it was the largest graduating class in the school up to that time. There were ten graduating that year. They were: Howard McMurdie, Florence McMurdie, Pear McMurdie, Flora James, Loretta James, Anne Miles, Jennie Oldham, Wilford Obray, Lizzie Norris (Richmond), Lizzie Pearce (Davidson), Annie Hansen, and Lily Olsen.

"I went to high school about four years after I graduated from grade school, in the years 1914-15 and 1915-16. My parents never had much money, so I went and earned some. I helped my sister Clarissa Holmes and her husband with the chores and housework. Sometimes I would go and help my neighbor with her housework because she had a new baby. The wages were not very high. I got $2.50 a week. I worked in 2 or 3 homes. The high school fees were not very high then, so I made enough to go to high school. The fee was $5.00 a year for 9 months of school. I went 2 years. The first year I took cooking and sewing, $1.00 for each; second year I took cooking and sewing and art, $1.00 each. I also took Algebra, English and History.

"Our mode of travel to and from Hyrum High School, a distance of five miles, was covered-wagon drawn by horses. The driver was George Sam Obray. There were 10 of us riding most of the time. On a particular morning there were 16 of us riding and the horses’ tug came undone while going down hill and frightened the team. The driver lost the right rein. When we came to a crossroad in the city, he pulled on the left rein and guided the horses uphill around the corner, causing the wagon box to fall off while the horses were going at full speed. Luckily none of the 16 youngsters were seriously hurt, but it was quite a mix-up and a scramble.

"In 1916 I came to Idaho to visit my brothers, Edward, Bert and Will, and kept house for them at their homestead at Dehlin. I was about ready to go to Parker to take care of my sister, Agnes, and help her, but Mr. Davidson came and asked me to cook for his threshers. Then I went to help Aunt Agnes, then to Ammon to help Uncle Joseph and Aunt Amanda, then back to the dry farm at Dehlin. Mr. Davidson came and asked me to cook for his hay men. I stayed in a tent near Idaho Falls or Ririe. In December Aunt Agnes had Ralph. Arland and I had our first date about this time.

Arland and Sarah - date unknown

"We were married 8 March 1918 in the Salt Lake Temple by Joseph Fielding Smith. As soon as we were married we moved to Dehlin and lived in a Joe Olsen house. Papa fed hogs and did chores for Olsen. Then we lived with his sister Mary Housely, but slept in a tent—in winter time, too. However, a while before Blanche was born (8 Feb. 1919), we lived in Aunt Mary’s house in Iona and stayed there until May when we went back to Dehlin again to Bulls’ Fork to the dry farm. There we lived till moving to Parker in 1925. However, before Alvin Lorenzo was born, November 27, 1920, I stayed with Aunt Agnes in Iona. After his birth, I went back to Dehlin. I stayed at a lady’s place in Idaho Falls until after Hyrum was born on September 28, 1922.
Hyrum lived only 18 days. He was buried in the Iona cemetery. In the winter of 1924 I stayed with my sister Agnes in Iona. Our fourth child, Anna Vernessa, was born on December 14, 1924, at the Idaho Falls hospital. I stayed with Aunt Agnes until February of 1925, when we moved to Parker, Idaho, to live with Arland’s mother, who was very ill, and I helped to care for her until her , March 9, 1925. We were at her bedside at her .

"Papa was Presiding Elder of the Dehlin Branch for a time, and served as a counselor to Bishop Schwieder also.

"We had lost the dry farm at Dehlin. Because of the depression, the country suffered during this time. Prices were very poor. We lived in the old Davidson home in Parker, where Arland farmed part of the old home place. While living here Blanche and Alvin started school. They got the measles here. At one time the clothes closet caught fire. Uncle Nathaniel was just coming in from the barns from milking. He threw the milk on the fire to put it out. It was in this house that Anna started to walk.

"Thelma Pearce was born here on February 24, 1926. Just before Myrl was born we moved to the little house to the north. Myrl was born here on September 20, 1927. ethel was born two years later on December 25, 1929. when she was quite small, I got poisoned on fish.

"Because of the depression, we lost this farm in Parker. We moved to Egin, Idaho, in the spring of 1932, where we rented a farm for two years (the Kimball place). While living here, Ethel had pneumonia. We then moved to the Hargis place, where we rented for twenty years. Here our children grew up and helped on the farm. In 1950 we bought a 40-acre farm in Egin.

"In Dehlin I was a Sunday School teacher and second counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. This was the Bonneville Stake. In Egin Ward I have been a visiting teacher in Relief Society since 1932, except for two terms as Relief Society Secretary-Treasurer. I was 5 years as secretary in Egin Ward and 5 years as secretary in the Egin Bench Ward.

"I find much joy in temple work and Arland and I go at every opportunity. I have been to the Salt Lake, Idaho Falls, Cardston, Manti, and Logan temples and hope to visit the others someday. I went to the Cardston Temple when my son Alvin was married, March 15, 1945.

"President Edward Wood called on my to speak in the chapel session, which was a very thrilling, yet frightening experience. I am very happy that all of my children have been worthy of a temple marriage and are all active in the Church. Three have served missions: Alvin went to the Western States mission, Myrl to the Spanish-American Mission and Thelma to the Netherlands Mission.

"I like to crochet doilies. I make homemade soap for laundering. I like to make quilt tops and quilt them. I have made baby quilts for all my grandchildren and quilt for each of them also."

* * * * *

Sarah Elizabeth Pearce Davidson

"Sarah Elizabeth Pearce was born November 23, 1892 at Paradise, Utah. She was the third daughter, and seventh child of Thomas Joseph and Mary Alice Pearce.
She was taught the value of work early in life, helping her care for the family, cooking, house cleaning, and gardening. She remembered as a young , baking bread and giving it to the Indians that came to the door on many occasions needing food. She recalled that they never sent anyone away hungry.

"At school she enjoyed playing baseball. One day a thrown bat knocked out her front teeth.
She started school at the age of seven, and graduated from the eighth grade in 1910. She earned money to attend high school by working for neighbors, and helping her sister, and her sister’s husband in the summer. In addition to tending the children, and helping with the housework, she milked seven cows, separated the milk, and took the cows to and from the pasture.

"When Arland and Elizabeth met, because of the lack of transportation as we know it today, their courtship was necessarily different. The following letters, written many years ago, express the sincerity of their parents, and are priceless memoirs to the children and their families.

"Arland wrote as follows:

'I hope you will not think me forward or unmanly but I would much rather have your real company than correspondence. But I would ask you to solemnly consider this for yourself. I desire the company of a true virtuous one of the opposite . I do not care for anything less than a true Latter Day Saint in precept as well as in word. Perhaps Elizabeth you will think me rude, or forward, but owing to the fact that we have kept company and corresponded for sometime, I felt that such as I have written ought to be understood. I am not a believer in shallow conversation or correspondence, but that everything we do in life should be done with real and pure intent. I believe this is a duty that I owe to you, to myself, to my parents, and to my God. Trusting this will meet with your approval and with kindest regards.
Arland'

"Elizabeth wrote back:

'Well, Arland I wrote Mother a letter and asked her what she thought about us getting married. I told her I intended to get married this winter and she wrote back and said she did not have any objection to us getting married. She though I was old enough to choose for myself, but she guessed that you would write and ask for me before we were married.
Elizabeth'

"They were married March 8, 1918 in the Salt Lake temple by Joseph Fielding Smith. Following their marriage they farmed Delhin, East of Idaho Falls until 1925. They moved to Parker, Idaho to farm until 1932, when they moved to Egin and farmed the Kimball place where Ellen Weatherstone now lives. Grandma often spoke of the many kindnesses shown them by Alvin and Reta Orgill while living as neighbors and the many experiences the two families had.
After two years they moved to the Harges farm near the sand hills where they farmed for twenty-six years before buying their own farm.

"During this time they had three children serve on missions, Alvin to the Western States, Thelma to Holland, and Myrl to California. Myrl and Thelma were on missions at the same time and their parents had a strong conviction that they were exceedingly blessed by the Lord at this time as they not only supported two children on missions, but were able to buy their own home where they resided until failing health made it necessary to move to Utah.

"Elizabeth loved working in the church. She enjoyed Relief Society and was secretary for many years. She was dedicated to her callings in the church and walked from her home on the Harges farm to the Egin church many times.

"She always served in the church whenever asked. She was a Relief Society Visiting Teacher for most of her life. She loved temple work. All of her children have been to the temple. Her sons and sons-in-law are High Priests. She has had nine grandchildren serve on missions.

"She said that the way her children could repay her for what she had done for them was to raise families of their own and teach them the gospel. She was a loving mother and grandmother. The family remembers many enjoyable times as a family, picking choke cherries, fishing the Snake River, picnics and outing to the sand hills, working as a family unit on the farm.

"Her hobbies were quilting, needlework, and gardening. She gave each of her children a quilt on their eighteenth birthday, and again when they were married. Each grandchild received a baby quilt, and a larger quilt later on. She always had a large vegetable garden, canning much of the produce for her family. Mother loved flowers, and in addition to a garden, she had many house plants.

"Her husband and companion, Arland, passed away in 1979 after sixty-one years of marriage. She passed away on January 30, 1985 in Pleasant Grove, Utah, at the age of ninety-two.
She is survived by the following sons, and daughters, Blanche Christensen of Murray, Utah; Alving Davidson of Egin, Idaho; Anna Adams of American Fork, Utah; Thelma White of Logan, Utah; Myrl Davidson and Ethel Lords of Aberdeen, Idaho.

"She was preceded in by her husband Arland, an infant son Hyrum, one great-granddaughter, and one great grandson.

"Sarah Elizabeth Pearce Davidson was a choice daughter of our Father in Heaven. She lived a full life, was a loving wife and mother, and left a wonderful heritage for her posterity.

"The following poem was written in memory of Sarah Davidson by Fern C. Humpfries:

'Gone from this life into eternity
Another of our true Pioneers
Who labored so hard through mortal life
Knew feelings of joy and times of tears
Working for family and making a home
Through many long hours everyday
With faith and patience, service and love
Departed now, and gone along her way.'"

Written by Darrell Lords (son-in-law) and Ethel Lords (daughter)

* * *

Sarah's obituary from the Idaho Falls Post Register

Arland and Sarah's gravestone in the Parker (Idaho) Cemetery

Arland Lorenzo Davidson, 1890-1979

• Born 8 Jul 1890 Fairview, Sanpete, Utah
• Died 4 Sep 1979 Highland, Utah, Utah
• Parents: Lorenzo S. Davidson and Anna Louisa Peterson
• Spouse: Sarah Elizabeth Pearce (md. 8 Mar 1918 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah)
• Children: Blanche Elizabeth Davidson, Alvin Lorenzo Davidson, Hyrum Davidson, Anna Vernessa Davidson, Thelma Pearce Davidson, Myrl Wesley Davidson, Ethel Davidson

"Arland was born 8 July 1890 in Fairview, San Pete County, Utah, in a frame building home. He was the second child of Lorenzo Davidson and Anna Louise Peterson Davidson. When Arland was 20 months old, his father and mother decided to emigrate to Wyoming and settle in the Big Horn Basin. The household consisted of one older daughter, Mary, of this union, and three half-sisters, Anna Wilhemine Peterson (Annie), Ellen Olive Peterson, and Regina Josephine Peterson (Rena) from a previous marriage of his mother to Johan Wilhelm Peterson.

"The family arrived in Teton Valley on May 22, 1892. The snow and drifts were so high they were afraid to travel any further. They shared a house with the Henry Todd family in Darby. On May 29, a week after they arrived, a brother Arthur was born.

"Because Arland was born prematurely, he was not very strong, and he didn’t walk until he was two years old. Also, he had scabs all over his head that caused his mother much concern.

"A log house was built and here Lenora and John David Nathaniel were born. When the valley was surveyed, it was found that the house was built upon the borderline of the Todd and Davidson farms. Because of this mistake Lorenzo built another home. The first log house was used for a dance hall, school house, and for parties, because it was the largest room around. In the second house, Eskil Leander and a stillborn son were born. Arland started school, then he was 8 years old. Sarah Holden was his first teacher. When he was in the sixth grade, he won the school spelling match by spelling the word, “Rome”.

"His boy friends were Boyd Todd, Archan Melvin Hill, and Sidney Blattner, with whom he had many enjoyable experiences. Fishing was a great sport. One time as he was riding a horse to go fishing he was thrown off onto a log fence, landing on his hip. His hip bothered him for three or more weeks.

"In 1902, an epidemic of diphtheria was in the valley. Arthur and Lenora were very sick, and it was feared that Arthur would not survive, as he was spitting up much , and fainting from weakness. Asifidity bags were tied around their necks, and the house was fumigated with carbolic acid and formaldehyde, to kill bacteria.

"Men came from the Pratt Ward to buy hay. Lorenzo asked them to have a prayer circle for Arthur. The next morning after the prayer circle, the little boy asked for a bucket of cold water. They hesitated in getting it for him, but he insisted, saying he would die if he didn’t get it. He doused his head in the water, and then said he was going to recover. Pete Larson, who was assigned to check out the sick families was very much surprised the next morning, to find Arthur almost fully recovered. He would not have to dig his grave.

"At first, Darby was just a small branch, with a few members. In 1895 it was organized into a Ward, with Emanuel Bagley as its Bishop. Arland’s mother was Relief Society President for 8 years, and Primary President for 9 years. She loved the Gospel, and taught it to the children early in their lives.

"Arland served in several Church jobs--1st Counselor in the Deacon’s Quorum, Assistant Secretary in the Mutual Association. He was ordained a Deacon in 1904, a teacher In 1909, and a Priest in 1909, and then an Elder in 1912. Parties and Church meetings were held in the Davidson home. People came long distances, and sometimes stayed all night.

"In the Spring of 1912, the family moved to a large brick home on the south side of Parker. Arland, being the oldest son, had many responsibilities. He helped to feed and care for 15-20 head of cattle, 10 horses, pigs, and chickens. His father let him build a barn by himself. As they hadn’t sold their farm in Darby, they had two farms to care for. The farm in Parker was quite rocky.

"In the summer of 1913, a group of young people—Mary, Arland, Arthur, Lenora and Lottie Rhodehouse went on an outing. They were chaperoned by a man and his wife, and they all went to Jackson Hole. Here, by the lake, they built a log raft. All of them went out on the lake, but Arland. Because he loved fishing, he hiked up the side of the lake where he found a boat. He got in it and asked Lottie to go with him. They circled round and round the raft. And because Lottie was Arthur’s girl, this teasing made Arthur jealous.

"He was called to go to Salt Lake City to meet with the General Authorities to be ordained an elder. He was ordained Nov. 5, 1913. The next day, Nov. 6, he received his endowments. He was called to serve a mission in Sweden. Thirty elders crossed the Atlantic on the Ariscratic [sic]. After docking at Liverpool, he traveled on, arriving at Stockholm, Sweden on Dec. 6. One of the men who crossed the Atlantic with him was Elder LeGrand Richards, who was to preside over the Swiss-German mission. He labored first in Eskilstuna with Homer Holmgreen, his companion. One day, while tracting, a man who disliked the missionaries pushed Arland down the stairs. He labored for awhile with two companions, J. Alma Johnson, and Carl J. Carlson, and spent several months on the island of Gotland.

Arland Davidson, missionary to Sweden

"All missionaries were called home from Europe, when World War I broke out. After leaving Stockholm 28 Oct., 1914, the elders stopped in England to get their assignments to finish their missions. He was called to finish his mission in South Carolina. Charles A. Callis was the president of the Southern States Mission; headquarters were at Chattanooga, Tennessee.

"After laboring for a year, he became ill with typhoid fever--25 Oct., 1915. He spent 41 days in the hospital and another four weeks recuperating. before he could travel home. He arrived in Parker, Jan. 5, 1916. That spring, he moved to Dehlin—about 20 miles east of Idaho Falls, to run a farm with his sister Mary and her family.

"It was that summer that he met and courted Sarah Elizabeth Pearce. She was from Paradise, Utah, but was keeping house for her brothers who [were] also farming in the Dehlin area. They courted for more than a year and then journeyed to Salt Lake City, where they married on Mar. 8, 1918 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Arland and Sarah Davidson, year unknown

"Patriarch Thomas Wakitt Lee gave him his patriarchal blessing in July, 1919. Arland served as first counselor to Bishop Ezra J. Nelson, with Russell William serving as 2nd Counselor. He also served as counselor for Bishop Arthur Schweider.

"A daughter, Blanche Elizabeth was born 8 Feb. 1919. Arland assisted as school trustee for five years. A severe draught made financial conditions very bad. The crops didn’t start growing until the middle of the summer. Unable to meet their debts and mortgages, they were forced to move from their farm, and Arland turned the farm over to his brother Arthur.

"Their first son, Alvin Lorenzo, was born Nov. 27, 1920 in Iona, Idaho. A second son, Hyrum, was born Sept. 28, 1922. He was not well, and lived only two weeks. Sarah stayed with Arland’s sister Mary, while Arland took care of the farm and animals. Later the little family moved to Iona, Idaho. A daughter, Anna Vernessa, was born Dec. 14, 1924, in Idaho Falls.

"Arland's father, Lorenzo, died April 12, 1924 in Salt lake City.

"They moved back to the dry farm after Anna was born. Sarah stayed with Arland’s sister Mary, while Arland stayed on the dry farm, taking care of the animals and chores.

"In the spring of 1925, Arland and Sarah moved to Parker, Idaho, to the house where Arland lived as a youth. He farmed the land jointly with his brother Nathaniel. Here, a daughter, Thelma Pearce, was born Feb. 24, 1926.

James Albert Pearce, Arthur Davidson, Charles Housley, Arland
James and Charles are Arthur and Arland's brothers-in-law

"Arland and Sarah were active in the Church. Family prayers were always a part of their lives. He served as a Ward Teacher, and the teacher of a religion class.

"To get wood to burn, Arland took two trailers and a couple of teams of horses to the Island Park area.

"In the spring of 1926 Arland assumed the mortgage on the farm. He was to farm the north part and Nathaniel the south side. They exchanged houses because Arland was living on the south lands house.

"During the autumn of 1927 Arland had a most remarkable spiritual experience. Rainfall had been scarce, crops were small, prices were low and yet payments of the farm must be met. One night as he lay awake thinking about their financial situation, he found sleep impossible. He decided to arise and read in the Improvement Era and pray to his Heavenly Father. He began by reading an article by Elder John A. Widtsoe, ‘Alma Speaks to the Twentieth Century’. And as he relates his experience.... "I hadn't read very far when a personage appeared in my room, standing in the air. His apparel was plain, his countenance was beautiful, giving the impression of extreme intelligence. I did not converse with him, but I felt his supreme being surround me. I don’t think he had any message for me, except to bring peace to my troubled mind. He was of rather large stature, and reminded me very much of President Woodrow Wilson. I received the impression that he was Alma - the same that was written about by Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Council of the Twelve. Peace came to my soul. I haven’t been in much debt since. I take the vision to be a fulfillment of my patriarchal blessing’s promise, ‘Thou shalt see visitations of angels, receive different portions of the Priesthood and labor in various callings.’”

"On Sept. 20, 1927, a son, Myrl Wesley was born. Two years later on Christmas day 1929, a daughter Ethel was born.

"In the fall of 1931 as he and his brother-in-law Irl Rohwer were hauling potatoes out of the potato pit he was caught between the top of the load and the ceiling of the cellar. Irl administered first-aid by blowing into his mouth. He tried for some time to revive him, and at last his efforts were successful.

"The mortgage was foreclosed and in the spring of 1932, the family moved to Egin Bench (the Kimball place) on the south side of Egin. It was during the depression of the 30’s and people had to work very hard to get the means to care for their families. Arland worked, for different farmers. He cut wheat for Mark Orgille. Mr. Orgille gave him permission to rake the hay grounds after Mr. Orgille had hauled the hay off.

"In 1933 Ethel got pneumonia and was very sick. Cinthia Orgille came and helped care for the child until she recovered.. The family lived in the three room frame home on this farm for two years.

"Arland then moved his family to the north side of Egin to the Doss Hargis place. Winter and spring of 1934 brought no snow or rain so the sub-irrigation water was very low. He was renting 80 acres of ground. Arland provided the best he could for his family. He gave his children a patch of potatoes, and in the fall the crop was sold, and the money divided up among the children. All the machinery was pulled by horses. Hay was hauled by horses pulling a hay rack. Hay was stacked by using a derrick and the Jackson fork, which took the hay from the hay rack to the top of the hay stack, by the use of a horse pulling it with a cable. Grain was cut and shocked, then hauled to the farm yard, and thrashed with a thrashing machine. Some of his horses he rode. He liked horses, and gave each a special name--some of them were Tony, Snap, Nig, White Queen, Black Queen, and Kidd.

"The family bought a car--a 1928 Dodge which had been owned by the President of B.Y.U.--Karl G. Maesor [sic]. During the summer of 1936 the family drove to Yellowstone Park for three days. They also went again in 1936.

The Davidson Family in 1938
Standing:  Ethel, Anna, Blanche, Thelma, Myrl
Sitting:  Alvin, Sarah, Arland

"During the winter, water was hauled from the canal by the farm, and also from the lake north of the farm with a “dummy sleigh”. Blocks of ice were stored in sawdust and used in the summer to freeze ice cream for an occasional treat. He always took his family to Church, even in the winter when drifts were high. Rocks were heated and placed in the sleigh. With blankets, the family kept warm while riding to Church.

"Choke-cherry picking was fun. The family loaded up the wagon, put in buckets and wash tubs, and would go berry picking out north of Egin, by the sand dunes.

"Arland and Sarah took their family fishing. They would travel in a wagon pulled by horses. The best fishing holes were in Snake River, south of Egin. Fish were fried over a campfire for a tasty picnic dinner.

"The family rode to Bear Gulch and to Elk Wallow, to get wood for the winter supply. Picnics were eaten and huckleberries were picked to be taken home to bottle. The relatives would remark that Arland always provided Sarah with plenty of wood. Arland and his two sons chopped wood until the woodpile was half as high as the house. This would be carried to the woodshed by the girls, where they would stack it inside for the winter supply.

"The winter months brought rabbits to the haystacks. Arland would poison them. Then the furs were sold to help with finances. One year 1000 rabbits were sold at five cents apiece. One night he brought 213 rabbits home. He also trapped coyotes and bobcats on the “Junipers”-- the mountains to the north.

Coyote trapping

Another coyote caught

"About the year 1939, crickets became a threat to the crops. Hordes of them came from the north-east. For miles, ditches were made with tin on one side to keep the crickets from coming onto the farms.

"The cattle herd increased to about sixty head. During the summer, they grazed on the “brakes’, north of the place, which was the area between the farms and the sand dunes. Sometimes they were taken across the sand hills. The girls took turns taking the cattle out to graze, and going to get them at the end of the day.

"The farm home was lit by kerosene lamps until 1940, when an electrical line was extended to the farm.

"Arland had several Church jobs. In 1941, he was appointed first counselor to Bishop Merrill Cruser. Ivan Mathie was the second counselor. He served as a Ward Teacher and a Gospe1 Message teacher in the Sunday School.

The Davidson Family (date unknown)
Standing:  Arland, Anna, Alvin, Thelma, Myrl
Seated in front:  Thelma, Sarah, Ethel

"In 1941, Blanche married Charles Bert Christensen, who was from Chapin. Idaho. Alvin was called to serve as a missionary in the Western States Mission.

"World War II started in Dec. 1941. Gas, meat, sugar, and tires were rationed. When meat was needed, Arland supplied the family with venison.

"Two years later, Alvin returned from his mission. In 1945, he married Clara Salerno from Salida, Colorado.

"In the fall of 1948, Thelma went on a mission to Holland. Myrl at this same time went to the Spanish American Mission.

"In March, 1948, Ethel married Darrell Lords, of St. Anthony, Idaho, and in April, Anna married Alden P. Adams of Cedar City, Utah.

"While keeping two missionaries in the mission field, Arland bought a farm on the South side of Egin, the Dr. West Place. Final payment was made just before Myrl returned from his mission. Farm prices were higher, after the war.

"In June, 1953, Thelma married David White, of Philadelphia, Pa. Myrl married Shirlene Siddoway from Teton Idaho, in 1955.

"Arland and Sarah accomplished one of their main goals in life when all of their children were married in the Temple. They made many trips to Idaho Falls to do temple work.

"Arland got sick and hemorrhaged from stomach ulcers in Sept., 1951. He was in the hospital for several days. He had another attack on November it 1953. He spent 57 days in the hospital in 1957 - in several trips. On Oct. 2, 1967 he was operated on in the Idaho Falls hospital. Two thirds of his stomach was removed. A gland operation was done in the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City about this time.

"His health returned, and Arland and Sarah continued to attend the temple regularly. Pres. Kilpack asked him many times to work at the veil in the temple. He did endowment work for many people in the Idaho Falls, Salt Lake City, Manti and Logan Temples, and a few times in the Provo Temple. He kept a record of every name he did work for, over a thousand names.

"Arland continued to farm until 1963 when he sold his half of the place to Alvin. They continued to raise a large and beautiful garden. Sarah’s health was failing, and Arland gradually took over the household duties as well as the garden.

"Arland was grateful for the many blessings he received in his active and full life and expressed his gratitude many times and especially for his wife as they supported each other in serving the Lord.

Arland reading by lamplight

"One of his greatest desires was to help his grandchildren financially, as they served on missions. From 1975 to 1979, he spent much of his time among his children, and going to the temple as often as he could. He loved to read and although his eyesight was poor he read the scriptures through many times."

The Davidson Family - 1965 - Egin
Standing:  Blanche, Alvin, Anna, Thelma, Myrl, Ethel
Seated:  Sarah, Arland

Arland and Sarah with the grandchildren - 1965 - Egin 

--This account of his life was recorded by Ethel as her father dictated it to her.

* * *

Arland developed cancer of the throat in the spring of 1979, and spent several weeks in the L.D.S. Hospital. in Salt lake City. He passed away on Sept.4, l979, while staying at Anna and Alden’s in American Fork, Utah. He was survived by his wife, six children, 34 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Sept. 8, at the Egin Bench Chapel and burial was at the Parker Cemetery.

Mary Alice Davenport, 1861-1937

• Born 4 Apr 1861 Draper, Salt Lake, Utah
• Died 13 Nov 1937 Hyrum, Cache, Utah
• Parents: Edward Wilcox Davenport and Clarissa Danforth Crapo
• Spouse: Thomas Joseph Pearce, Sr. (md. 1 Dec 1881 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah)
• Children: Mary Agnes Pearce; Thomas Joseph Pearce, Jr.; Clarissa Pearce; William Edwin Pearce; Edward Pearce; James Albert Pearce; Sarah Elizabeth Pearce; Warren Pearce; Marcus Pearce; Eudora Pearce

Written by her oldest son, Thomas Joseph, in 1961.

"Some things I remember of her life and Elizabeth, (Lizzie), sent me some.

"Mary Alice Davenport, born 4 April, 1861 daughter of Edward Wilcox Davenport and Clarissa Danforth Crapo. She was born Draper, Utah. Mother was idolized by her older brothers. She was tall and dark like her father and had his sweet and gentle disposition. She was loved by all who knew her. She went through all the hardships the pioneers had to go through. Most of their work had to be done by hand in the house and on the farm. They did not have the things to work with as we have them today.

"Mother did all the washing by hand on the washboard and tub. When we were small she had a hard time to take care of us and get her washing done and take care of the housework.
When I was a small boy I got kicked with a horse as father led them to water. He was heading the team past the corner of the stable. One of them kicked me in the face and I was knocked out. I guess I was badly bruised but not serious. I have a faint recollection of when I came to. Mother was worried about me. They were working with me.

"When the threshers came to do the thrashing, there was lots of work to be done. The grain had to be threshed by horse power driven by six teams of horses going in a circle. There was a big change of things when the steam thresher came in. There was six men with the threshing machine besides those helping to handle the grain, about fourteen altogether. Mother had to do lots of work to prepare for then. She hired some help. I remember it well because we had lots of good things to eat. Generally there were two to three meals to prepare.

"Father was a good gardener so he would plant a good garden and mother and the children had the job of taking. care of it, There was a large orchard on the place so we had plenty of fruit. Mother peeled apples and dried them in the sun by the sackful.

"She made all the clothes when we were young. She made knee pants for the boys and long dresses for the girls until we got older. I wore knee pants when I was a small boy and I was proud of them.

"Mother was very much concerned about the company we went with especially the young people and I think all of us have done very well.

"I did not know very much about my mother before she was married. I am indebted to the Davenport family for this information. Grandfather left Draper, Utah, and went to old Paradise, now Avon, and settled there in the year 1862. Grandma and family came later. They moved to Brigham City, Utah in 1875 and lived until 1878. While in Brigham City, Mother learned to trim ladies’ hats. In 1878 Grandfather bought Grandpa Crapo's home in Paradise, and the family moved back there to live.

"When mother was a child, Grandmother took in a little Indian girl to raise whose name was Nancy. They became very fond of each other, and Nancy was just afraid of the Indians as Mother was. Nancy died when a child.

"Mother was idolized by her five older brothers. Grandfather had to travel 12 miles to Logan, Utah, to get supplies and clothing, food, and shoes. Mother’s shoes were too small and hurt her feet. I think that is what caused the bunion on her big toe.

"When Mother was 17 years old, her brothers bought a small saw mill in White Pine Canyon east of Paradise. Mother helped cook for the men until she married.

"On 1 December 1881 mother married Thomas Joseph Pearce in the Endowment house in Salt Lake City, Utah. To get there from Paradise, about 80 miles from Salt Lake City, they had to travel in a lumber wagon with a wagon box and a spring seat on it. The wagon was drawn by horses. I bet they hurried down there and were slow coming back!

"After their marriage they settled in Paradise and lived there the rest of their lives and were buried there.

Back row:  l. to r. Sarah E., Warren, William E., Edward, Clarissa J., Albert
Middle row:  Thomas Joseph Jr., Mary Alice D., Thomas Joseph Sr., Agnes
In front:  Eudora

"The first house they lived in was a two roomed building. It was made of white pine logs sawed on four sides with lumber siding on the outside and lath and plaster on the inside. They lived in this house until Albert (Bert) was born. The new one was built sometime between when Bert and Marcus was born. Marcus died when he was 18 days old. They held the funeral at home in the new house.

"I have heard Mother and Father tell about when I was born in the two roomed house. It was not finished so when I was born, they had to put canvas on the roof so they could make a bed for Mother. It was raining hard, so, they had to hurry. Babies were born at home in those days and midwives were the doctors.

"When Bert was a baby a bad case of typhoid broke out in the family. I did not get it. I was going to school and one day when I came home they were all quarantined in, I was staying at Grandma Pearce's at the time so I did not get it. There were six of the children sick at the same time. I guess Mother had a problem on her hands to care of all of them. Clarissa was the worst. When she got better she looked like a stack of bones. She just about passed away. The doctor told Mother to go to bed. No, she said, I have to take care of my family. The doctor gave her some medicine and she did not take it. All got better, but it was a miracle. This was about the worst thing they ever had in the family.

"There was lots of Indians passing through Paradise in the early days. They were begging food. Many times after they were married the Indians would come to the house for food. She could make good loaves of bread and many of them went to feed the Indians.

L. to r.  Thomas Joseph, Edward, Eudora, Mary Alice Davenport Pearce

"In the spring of 1906 Mother and father met with a bad when the horses ran away. We did not have a white buggy so Father used a wagon with a box on it. To make it easier to ride, there was spring seats to put on the box. There were five of us in the wagon. Father and I in the front seat, Sister Lizzie Smith and Mother in a seat behind and my brother Will standing up behind them. The horses got frightened at something, they whirled to the right, and broke the tongue of the wagon, and turned back the way they came. Father went over the front endgate down behind the horses and I think the wheel ran over his hand. Mother, Sister Smith and Will were thrown out, spring and all. I dropped down in the wagon box and the only way I could get out was to crawl to the back of the wagon and drop out. I did not. get hurt. Mother got her wrist broken as she hit the ground. The rest of us were all right. I saw people taking care of them so I followed the team. They came to a stop when they went straddle of a tree. I straightened them out and then up town to Logan. We were about a mile from the center of town. Somebody took them to the doctors office. Father’s hand was crippled. It was fairly good. Mothers wrist was always stiff.

"Among Mother’s accomplishments were soap-making and her beautiful knitted lace. She used to quilt for the Relief Society and was paid one dollar for every spool of thread she used on the quilt.
Mother had a sweet, gentle. disposition and was loved by all who knew her. She loved her family and was kind to them. Two of her sons died. Marcus was born 4 April 1898 and lived 18 days. He died 24 (?) April 1898. Edward grew to manhood and did not marry. He passed away in his 38th year on 6 March 1927."